business.un.org, Partnering for a better world

You can search this section to discover more about partnerships addressing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These are international targets set by world leaders in 2000 to overcome major global challenges by 2015. The MDGs were adopted by 189 United Nations member states in September 2000. They are:

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
Goal 5: Improve maternal health
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

In today’s interdependent global economy, it makes good business sense for companies to address the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs aim to develop secure, stable and prosperous societies, in which business can flourish. The private sector benefits from the participation of a healthy, educated workforce, and the presence of a solid base of consumers and investors. Also, many of the problems addressed by the MDGs, such as poor health and education, conflict and instability, environmental degradation, and global climate change, can directly increase the costs and risks of undertaking business in developing communities. Failure to address these issues can also lead to short-term and long-term financial risks, market risks, litigation risks and reputation risks. Search this section of the website to learn more about the MDGs and about specific partnerships undertaken by business and the UN to advance work toward these goals.